Russia's Black Sea Fleet has relocated its primary base from the occupied Sevastopol to Novorossiysk. This shift is seen as a direct response to the growing threat posed by Ukrainian maritime drones, according to Tech.
Effort to Protect Naval Forces
Recent satellite images, analyzed by OSINT expert MT Anderson, reveal that most of the Russian fleet's valuable assets are now stationed at Novorossiysk.
The relocation appears to be part of a broader effort by Russia to protect its naval forces from potential drone strikes. To further secure the entrance to the new base, the Russian Navy has deployed barges as additional defenses.
The relocation is not just a defensive maneuver but also shows the challenges the Russian fleet is facing in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
All operational Russian submarines in the Black Sea, including the B-871 "Alrosa" and three "Warszawianka" class submarines, are now based in Novorossiysk. These include the B-265 "Krasnodar," B-268 "Veliky Novgorod," and B-271 "Kolpino."
Surface Ships also Moved
Additionally, the fleet's surface ships have also been moved to Novorossiysk. Among these are two modern missile frigates, the "Admiral Essen" and "Admiral Makarov," as well as older Soviet-era vessels, such as the "Ladny" and "Pytlivy."
The base also hosts six large landing ships and three patrol ships of the 22160 project. Despite these reinforcements, the fleet's effectiveness has been called into question in recent weeks.
Interestingly, while Russia possesses four "Buyan-M" class small missile ships capable of carrying "Kalibr" cruise missiles, only one is currently stationed at Novorossiysk. The others remain docked, avoiding deployment due to the heightened risks at sea.
